Photograph courtesy Biggar Museum & Gallery










James H. Cunningham came to Biggar in June 1908 and built a big red Cunningham and Langstaff Livery Barn, on the corner of Third Ave. West and Queen Street. The barn was equipped with a fine stock of horses and rigs. He formed a business partnership with Mr. Langstaff in December of 1908. Mr. Cunningham had been engaged in the livery business at Glenella, Manitoba prior to his coming here.

According to the 1909 edition of Biggar World, "The firm are prospering in their business and are highly satisfied with their present prosperity and their assured future in this rapidly developing town. "

On the 1911 census Cunningham and Langstaff appear with six employees lodging with them; Robert Graham, Alexander Sirr, Wallace Bates, William Wright, Bert Gilbertson, and James Batt In the 1920s they hired Harry Wright to manage the livery barn.

Mr. Cunningham lived in Biggar until 1938 when he moved his family to Hythe, Alberta.

The barn was purchased by the town from Mr. A. Deschene in 1955 for $2250.00. The town kept the corner lot and sold the building and other lots to Mr. F. Hoult and Mr. A. Gartner. Several users of the barn wrote letters to The Editor of the local newspaper when the town decided to sell the barn and lots as they felt there was still a need in Biggar for a livery barn. Hoult and Gartner tore down the barn and built new houses on the lots. Lumber from the old barn was used in the construction of the houses. The corner lot was later sold to Jack O’Brien where he built a house.


Sources:
Biggar World, Biggar, Saskatchewan, August 19, 1909, pages 3 & 5.

The Independent, Biggar, Saskatchewan, March 11, 1943, page 6.

The Independent, Biggar, Saskatchewan, April 7, 1955, page 1.

"1911 Census of Canada" (Primary source scanned document). Saskatchewan District Battleford Section 17 township 34. National Library and Archives Canada. 2008-07-10. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1911/index-e.html. Retrieved 2010-12-05.

Kulperger, Jan. "1911 Census of Canada / 1911 / Saskatchewan / Battleford / 17 Townships 34 / page 31" (secondary source transcription). Automated Genealogy. http://automatedgenealogy.com/census11/View.jsp?id=39756&highlight=11&desc=1911+Census+of+Canada+page+containing+Dudley+Langstaff. Retrieved 2010-12-05.